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Thread: BMW Shop recommendations

  1. #41
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    Just brought my Z4 to Motorwerks on friday for oil and filter, real nice shop. I don't like the fact that you can't talk to the mechanics, kinda like going to the dealer. But otherwise no complaints.

  2. #42
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    I would really really hope that a shop that charges $200 or more for an oil change gives you a great experience, and I wonder if anyone something as simple as that is legit review. Here's my take:

    - German car specialists - grossly expensive,
    - Sheni - same as above and mixed reviews - some love it/ others hate that they got ripped off by upselling
    - Motorwerks - awesome and tidy shop, will take on tricky work, can't talk to a mechanic so free help/ discussion is absent
    - Vitek - by far the most helpful. For context, I've probably taken 2-3hrs of their front desk (Eric) by just asking him questions about random stuff.
    - Euroworks - reasonable all around - it's a good mix between Vitek and Motorwerks
    - Alpine - good guys with a small shop feel

    For me, the must is A) quality work B) none in my circle should have a negative review C) the shop can handle relatively tricky work without blowing through the budget. However, above and beyond is the helpful attitude e.g. answering questions without getting paid OR avoiding work that isn't necessary e.g. I once took in E46M3 to Vitek for subframe reinforcement and the shop convinced me that based on my use (non-track) and history (not breaking cars), I should just monitor at each oil change - saved me $3k.

    All in: Vitek #1, Alpine #2

  3. #43
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    +1 to Viteks. Awesome guys to work with and no BS upcharging or anything of that nature. They're always busy, so if you need some work done, you might have to wait a couple of weeks.

  4. #44
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    Motor Werke in Kelowna is the best European mechanic I’ve been to, including all the ones listed above. If your ever in that neck of the woods..

  5. #45
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    VEX is also getting into BMW. Been around awhile and generally out to do good work.
    I had them do some $$$ quotes for deleting my X5d but never gotten any work done except an inspection.
    They were? a sponsor here for awhile.
    Operator Of Beyond's Official Cardano pool.
    Magical internet money for everyone!

  6. #46
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    Quote Originally Posted by BavarianBeast View Post
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    Motor Werke in Kelowna is the best European mechanic I’ve been to, including all the ones listed above. If your ever in that neck of the woods..
    A long way to go for an oil change

  7. #47
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    You guys are dropping $200 on oil changes?!
    Maintained many BMW's over the years.
    Recently figured out the software side and minor coding for features.
    Adaptation resets and new battery registration.
    What does that cost? Can't imagine.

  8. #48
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    I've used both MotorWerk's and Alpine for my BMW without any issues.

    My preference would be:

    1. Alpine
    2. Motorwerks

    That said, no issues with either shop and they've stood behind their work which is something I really like. Parm at MotorWerks is really knowledgeable and has always been upfront with me although there's always upselling...but that's like going to any dealershop and shop nowadays from what I've experienced. Marc at Alpine (RIP) has always been upfront and honest too and stands behind his work although he did more work for me on my Porsche than BMW, but he was more than happy to work on my BMW when I had it.
    Quote Originally Posted by Disoblige View Post
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    Arash reminds me of Mar but I can't tell which one is more stupid.
    Quote Originally Posted by JRSC00LUDE View Post
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    Yeah well I wonder how they get the soft flowing caramel inside the Caramilk bar but you don't see me making a god damn thread about it. Slap your wife Baygirl, straighten him out.

  9. #49
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    Picked up my car from Viteks yesterday and noticed this morning after washing it the trunk is all scratched up from the techs pushing the car around. A little annoyed.

    Also RIP Marc B at Alpine

  10. #50
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    OMG, Ive known Marc B for 16+ years, didn't hear he passed. Anyone know what happened. RIP

  11. #51
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    Quote Originally Posted by mr2mike View Post
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    You guys are dropping $200 on oil changes?!
    Maintained many BMW's over the years.
    Recently figured out the software side and minor coding for features.
    Adaptation resets and new battery registration.
    What does that cost? Can't imagine.
    What software/hardware are you using?
    I've used Esys with an ENET cable to code options, but I need to replace my battery and my current software doesn't do the battery registration. I have cheap amazon OBD2 wireless adapter too, but too cheap to buy any of the paid apps so far.
    Originally posted by max_boost
    Hey baller, any problem money can solve is no problem at all. Don't sweat it.

  12. #52
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    Quote Originally Posted by GOnSHO View Post
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    Oh jeez,

    almost forgot how off track Beyond threads can get. LOL


    Thanks for the suggestions.
    Saw you at Kensington a couple of weeks ago. Nice looking vehicle.

    Tunerworks gets my vote.

  13. #53
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    I use DIS v57 which I believe I got off the following links.
    https://www.beemerlab.org/2018/11/di...tallation.html

    I have the same cable I suspect and it has a toggle switch on top.
    WinXP on an old laptop.

    Took quite a bit of hoop jumping but managed to get the software to work.

    Google "BMW DIS V57, SSS PROGMAN V32 & TIS V8 Installation Procedure"
    Save and use that pdf to install.
    I actually didn't install SSS as my computer ran out of memory but the DIS still works.
    I also had to run DIS v57 off an external USB stick. It works.

    Let me know how you make out and if you need help.
    DIS v57 should register your battery. I'm pretty sure I saw the option in there.

  14. #54
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    I guess I’ll bump this. -1 for Viteks and less so VEX. Back in September my 335d large turbo stopped working. I took it to Viteks and they diagnosed a seizing internal wastegate on the large turbo, quoted $6000 for repair. I decided to get a second opinion from VEX and they took my car for 6 weeks and came to the same conclusion. I was pretty pissed after that because the car was down for 7 weeks and I had spent somehow $1000 in diagnosis. So I took the car back one week before Christmas and just after Christmas removed the turbos myself, and took the large turbo to VEX. After removing them neither myself, my dad or VEX saw an issue with the wastegate but they sent it to Alamo anyway. Alamo also didn’t see any issue but rebuilt the turbo without authorization, which was good because I ended up getting a turbo rebuild for basically cost, but also annoying. All in all they also held the turbo for 5.5 weeks to get an answer. I put the car back together with all oem parts (gaskets, seals, new vacuum lines again) and it still didn’t work, in fact now the small turbo barely worked too. Spent hours retracing all my work, confirming things, bench testing solenoids, data logging, and had scheduled to have the SCR cut out of the exhaust as the original shop (Viteks) who deleted it in May 2021 didn’t do that and it should have been done. I had the SCR cut out (after 20 hours of reassembly and further diagnosis and retracing my work) and the car works flawlessly, it was so fucking packed full of soot it was causing backpressure. Prior to having the SCR cut out I guessed that what was happening was the exhaust backpressure sensor was being triggered, opening the wastegate partially and stopping (this must be where both shops diagnosed a seized wastegate) which appears to have been the case. I also had exhaust manifold gaskets leak which wasn’t noticed by either shops, and now makes perfect sense why they were blown out due to backpressure. All in all this learning experience cost me $2500. $1000 for diagnosis really sucks, around $900 in gaskets etc I needed to fix the exhaust manifold leaks anyway because both turbos have to come out, and then the $500 turbo rebuild I also didn’t need. I will say VEX was good for suggestions and gave me a break on parts pricing (gaskets, seals etc) and ideas after I put it back together and it didn’t work, and at one point they said “you should probably cut the SCR out just in case it’s causing issues” at the time I took the car back from diagnosis but they didn’t find the root cause of the problem.

  15. #55
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    Default Recommend a good BMW shop

    For my uncle. Following family tradition, you buy one nice car in your life and never get rid of it, no matter the heartache or financial devastation it should cause.

    It’s a 2008 BMW X5 4.8 V8. Only has 116k, but after a trip to Vancouver it’s now going through oil AND coolant. Head gaskets? Not sure, but he’s taking it to the dealer tomorrow for an estimate. I know he’ll choke and want a second opinion. Maybe cheaper to replace the entire engine? Last few years he spent a boatload on the air suspension, pano roof, and I believe something to do with the valve timing, he’s not afraid to spend money to make his baby right again. Maybe he should stick to the dealer??

    Any solid recommendations for a BMW specialist would be much appreciated. I’m hoping this goes better than the Range Rover thread lol.

  16. #56
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    Alpine Autowerks or Vitek.

  17. #57
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    Quote Originally Posted by mr2mike View Post
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    Alpine Autowerks or Vitek.
    -1 for Viteks, +1 for Alpine.

  18. #58
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    Sheni's Autotrend. That's who I use.

  19. #59
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    I found Viteks to be accommodating and reasonable.


    "There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know."
    -- Donald Rumsfeld

  20. #60
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dynasty 88 View Post
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    For my uncle. Following family tradition, you buy one nice car in your life and never get rid of it, no matter the heartache or financial devastation it should cause.

    It’s a 2008 BMW X5 4.8 V8. Only has 116k, but after a trip to Vancouver it’s now going through oil AND coolant. Head gaskets? Not sure, but he’s taking it to the dealer tomorrow for an estimate. I know he’ll choke and want a second opinion. Maybe cheaper to replace the entire engine? Last few years he spent a boatload on the air suspension, pano roof, and I believe something to do with the valve timing, he’s not afraid to spend money to make his baby right again. Maybe he should stick to the dealer??

    Any solid recommendations for a BMW specialist would be much appreciated. I’m hoping this goes better than the Range Rover thread lol.
    Start parking it with the keys in it and unlocked.
    Last edited by ThePenIsMightier; 09-13-2022 at 02:40 PM.

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